Daily Reflection for Monday, February 07, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020722.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13
Responsorial: Psalm 132:6-7, 8-10
Gospel: Mark 6:53-56
Our reflection on Monday’s readings:
… the LORD’s glory had filled the temple of the LORD. 1 Kings 8:11b
The LORD’s Glory is what the rabbis called shekinah which means indwelling. It is the presence of God dwelling with his people. This Glory first appeared as the pillar of fire and cloud that led the Israelites throughout their desert journey (Exodus 13:21). It is the same Glory that filled the Tabernacle’s inner most chamber where the Ark of the Covenant rested.
In today’s first reading we see all of Israel gathered for the dedication of the Temple that Solomon built for the LORD. When the Ark of the Covenant was brought in, the Glory filled the Temple and remained there for centuries.
However, because of Israel’s persistent idolatry and disobedience, the LORD’s glory eventually departed from Solomon’s temple, after which the Glory never again returned to an earthly dwelling built by men.
So, what happened to the LORD’s glory?
Centuries later shepherds saw the Glory appear in the sky as angles announced the birth of Christ (Luke 2:9). His coming was the return of the LORD’s Glory to earth. God was again dwelling with his people.
After his death and resurrection, Christ promised that God would continue to dwell with his children in the person of the Holy Spirit. But there were strings attached to this promise. On the night of his betrayal the Lord articulated the following conditions: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” (John14:23)
Are we keeping his word? Are we loving God with all we have and all we are? Are we loving our neighbor as ourselves? Have we limited our definition of neighbor to include only those who are like us? Look like us? Think like us?
Let us not be like the children of Israel who lost the Glory of the Lord through disobedience and disloyalty. Instead let us obey God and strive each day to respond with love and kindness to whomever or whatever might come our way.
May the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you always.
Melissa Kittrell